Gods Sabbath

T HE B ATTLE FOR THE B IRTHRIGHT

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“Bent on self-indulgence, he [Esau] desired nothing so much as liberty to do as he pleased. To him power and riches, feasting and reveling, were happiness. He gloried in the unrestrained freedom of his wild, roving life. Rebekah remembered the words of the angel, and she read with clearer insight than did her hus band the character of their sons. She was convinced that the heritage of divine promise was intended for Jacob. She repeated to Isaac the angel’s words; but the father’s affections were cen tered upon the elder son, and he was unshaken in his purpose.” Patriarchs and Prophets , 177.2, 178.1. The most important thing to Abraham had been the advance ment of God’s kingdom in accordance with the promises Jehovah had personally made to him. The same was true of Isaac and Re bekah. Consequently, they diligently taught their sons the prin

ciples and purposes of God in the everlasting covenant, and impressed upon their minds the sa cred responsibilities in herent in the birthright. But Esau, in fulfillment of the prophecy made to Rebekah before the twins were born, displayed no interest in the spiritual blessings of the birthright. He developed a character

Reason

Feelings

Reason

Feelings

Sin Righteous ness If feelings rule over reason this will eventually lead to sin.

which disqualified him from undertaking its responsibilities. He revealed his unfitness for the birthright when he sold it for a plate ful of food, and confirmed it when he married two heathen wives. Just as his father preferred him to his brother, Esau had learnt to be sentimental too, allowing his feelings to dominate his reason. “Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, ‘Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!’ (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, ‘First sell me your birthright.’ ‘Look, I am about to die,’ Esau said. ‘What good is the birthright to me?’ But Jacob said, ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau